Shipping unit.



J. W. TERRY. `SHIPPING UNIT.

APPLICATION PILEDITAN. 9, 1913. BENEWED JUNE 29,*1914.

Patented! M126, 1915.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. W. TERRY. SHIPPING UNIT. APPLIUATION FILED 1.11m, 1913. RENBWBD JUNE29, 1914.

119116,31@ Patented .111126, 1915.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

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O O O O O I O 17h 0 O 34 /Zl O/29 17h '7 O 6 i 4 f 4028 28e f7 M N 55 5D32 29e /Nl/E/vmf? a James VV. Terr J. W. TERRY. SHIPPING UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 1913. RENEWED JUNE 29, 19l4.

Patented. Jan. 26, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 26, 19115.

Application led January 9, 1913, Serial No. 741,000. Renewed .Tune 29,1914. Serial No. 640,002.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES 1V. TERRY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas,have invented ane and Improved Shipping Unit, of whichthe fol- .pingunit constructed in accordance with my lowing is a full, clear, andexact description.

The inventionrelates to a shipping unit or carrier for thetransportation of merchandise as freight, express, or baggage, the saidunit comprising generally a wheeled structure of a predetermined size, agiven number of which may be contained in an ordinary box car andtransported bodily, to the end'that labor and time be minimized in theloading, transportation, and unloading of small consignments. The unitsare intendcd tobe supplied for the different stations, and to beimmediately loaded with the merchandise as the latter is received at thestation, so that at the close ofthe day each j foreach town may bequickly rolled out of the car and placed in the storeroom, the wholeoperation involving a minimum handling of the individual packages.

My invention contemplates an improved shipping unit of the generalcharacter indicated, in which novel closures or doors are adapted to belowered and to constitute a platform; a distinctive fastening means forthe doors when in the closed position, a new and efficient arrangementof folding shelves or racks, and folding supportsY therefor, whereby theracks and supports are folded out of the way when not required for use;and swiveled trucks for the shipping unit having folding handle elementsand members associated therewith, so arranged that the handles may befolded against the sides of the body of the shipping unit, and in beingso folded will serve to lock thetrucks against turning movement on theirswiveled connection, relatively to the body.

The distinguishing features of my invention will be further elucidated,and the important structural elements characterizing the practicalembodiment which is illustrated as an example, will be more particularlyexplained in the specific description hereinafter to be given.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shipinvention, the doors or closuresbeing shown in the lowered position to constitute a platform; Fig. 2 isa detail in Vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is adetail horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a frontelevation with the doors in the closed position; Fig. 5 is a sectionalplan view, the section being taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig.4; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section; Fig. 7 is a partly verticalsection approximately on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a partiallyinverted plan view; Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectionshowing one of the rack-supporting elements in folded position beneaththe top of the unit; and Fig. 10 is a cross section on the l-ine 10-10of Fig. 9.

In constructing a shipping unit of the illustrated form a body is madeof a predetermined relation to the size of a car, the desirableconstruction being about six feet long by four feet wide and from six toseven feet high, so that a standard car thirty six feet long wouldaccommodate eleven of the units. The body comprises a bottom 10, a. top11, back 12 and sides 13 of suitable material. there being corner posts14, a sill 15, and corner irons 16 wherever desired for strength.

The doors or closures-for the open front of the-body are preferablyformed in sections, indicated by the numeral 17, hinged as at 17a to thebottom of the body, the hinge connection preferably being effected byproviding a metallic facing 17b which forms the swing hinged leaf and afixed hinged leaf, 17c secured to the bottom 10. The upper portion 18 ofeach door section is hinged to the main door 17 as at 18, so that whenthe door is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will constitutea platform of which the hinged outer ends 18 constitute an incline. Inpractice, suitable trestles or blocks are placed under the door 17 inthe lowered position. When in the closed position indicated in Fig. 4,the hinge joints 18 are made rigid, or stiffened by rcmovable slides 19that are received in keepers 20 at the meeting points of the doors 171and their hinged portions 18, the slides pref'-4 erably having outwardlyprojecting flanges 19a forming hand' grips. At each side of the unit, atthe front, swinging vertical cleats 21 are hinged, as at 22, to thecorner posts preferably by providing a metallic facing 23 on each cleat,which has a right angular bend 24 with which the hinged connection 22 ismade. A metallic facing 25 is applied to the adjacent corner posts 14constituting the fixed leaf of the hinge. The arrangement is such thatthe cleats may be closed against the outer faces of the doors and lieWithin the plane of the front corner posts 14, against the metallicfacings 14a on said post. In the closed position the upper ends of thedoors are thus held by the cleats 21 vagainst the lintel 26 and Withinan overhanging horizontal member or strip 27..

'lhe hinged cleats 21 carry fastenlng straps 28, 29, pivoted to thecleats 28, 29, which turn in a vertical plane, for swlnging to thehorizontal position across the doors 17 at the outer sides thereof. Thestraps 28, 29 -overlap each other at the center, the one strap beingprovidedwith a staple 30 on a? hinged end 31 of the strap, the hingebeing indicated by the character 29, while the other strap is in theform of a hasp 31a hinged to its strap, as at 28C, a padlock 32 or otherlock or seal being applied to the staple when the straps are closed. Thehasp end 31 has an angular bend or offset 33 to fit over a removablevertical fastener bar 34, between the shoulders 34a thereon.

The fastener bar34 is received at the bottom in a. socket 36 in the sill15, behind a plate 38, and is shouldered as at 34b to rest on the top ofthe sill, while the upperA end is slidable through a vertical opening 35in the top 11 of the structure, behind a fastener plate 37 which issecured to the said top. Thus, after the doors have been closed, andstiffened by the slides 19, the fastener bar 34 is placed outside ofthemeeting ends of the doors, the ends of the bar being secured inposition, whereupon the straps 28, 29, are swung on their pivots 28,29El and the hinged overlapped members of the straps are brought intoengagement With the hinged hasp section 31a between the shoulders 34a ofthe fastener bar 34. In the swinging ofthe fastener straps 28, 29, theyengage beneath keepers 40.on the doors 17', and the inner ends 28h, 29"-of the straps enter recesses 39 formed in the side faces of the cornerposts 14. lIn addition to the fastener straps 28, 29, auxiliary latches4l are pivoted as at 42, to the cleats 21 and adapted to turn verticallyso as to engage behind keepers 43 on the door sections 18, to thusindependently fasten said sections.

Within the structure I provide shelves or racks indicated by the numeral44, the outer ends '45'being hinged as at 45 to fold relatively to thebody ortions 44 of the shelf, and in practice tliere is a plurality ofthese shelves, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Each shelf section is hingedto a hinge rod 46 ranging longitudinally of the structure adjacent tothe back 12 thereof, the hinged connection being effected in the formshown, by providing each shelf 44 with a hinge strap 47 engaging the rod46. The shelves when in the lowered position, are supported by bars 48,located at the meeting ends of the shelf sections, and said bars 48 areadapted for removable engagement with the hinged rod 16, for whichpurpose each bar 48 is formed with a hook 49 atits inner end; the hookis illustrated asformed on a strap 50 applied to the said bar 48 andcontinued in the form of hooks 49. The hooks are slotted as at 51, topass at each side of the brackets 52 securedby their bases 53 to theback 12 of the structure, in which brackets the hinge rod 46 hassupport. I have shown also spacing washers 54 on the hinge rod 46adjacent to the flanges 52, but this feature may `be omitted inpractice.

The outer ends of the supporting bars' 48 of the shelves or racks 44,45, are suspended by hangers 55 suitably connected with the bars 48 asby straps 56 which are continued at their outer ends in the form ofloops 57 that extend around and embrace the lower cross piece 58 of saidhangers. The upper end of each hanger 55 is secured loosely by a staple59 applied to the inner face of the lintel 26, just beneaththe roof ortop of the structure. The supporting bars 48 and their hangers 55 havegreat freedom of movement relatively to'each other and relatively to thestaples 59, in order to engage the hooks 49 with the hinge rods 46,

bars and hangers may be vfolded parallel' with each other, andapproximately parallel with the lintel 26, as shown best in Figs. 9 and10, in Vwhich position each hanger and its bar 48 is supported on alateral hook 61, integral with a bracket or base plate 60 secured to theface of the lintel, the lip 62 of the hook being upturned.

Each shelf 44, 45, may be swung upward with the hinge rod 46 as acenter, in which position the body 44 of theshelf will be disposedvertically against the back 1.2, while the hinged end 45 willbeldispolsed horizontally and extend forwardly vbeneath the top 11 ofthe structure. In the folded position of the shelf the end of the hingedportion 45 is sustained by'a keeper 63, which is offknob or the like,66, which serves as a hanj structure beneath the bottom. I0; thus eachtruck 67 is swiveled by afking-pin G8 to turn on a vertical aXis, andthe axle 69 thereof has suitable wheels 70. The handle T1 of each truckhas a cross bar 72 or equivalent formation at-the outerend, and a crossbar 73 at the base of the handle is hinged as at 73*L to the truck orplatform 67, so that the ,handle may be brought to a lowered positionlfor use, or folded to an approximately vertical position against theend 13 of the structure, at the outside-of the latter, within the planeof the corner posts 14. Any suitable catch 76, by engaging the outerhandle bar 72 will serve to hold the handle in the raised positionsnugly against the truck body and out of the way. In order that when thehandle is folded against the body, the platform 67 and aXle 69 may beheld rigidly against any tendency to turning on the king-pin 68, thehandle is provided with members to interengage with the bodyfthus I formon the bottom cross bar 73 of the handle, lugs 74 that will enterrecesses 75 in the adjacent end 13 of the body when the handle is foldedupward.

The described construction affords a practical means for carrying myinvention into effect in simple form, and I would state in conclusionthat I do not limit myself strictly lto the mechanical details hereinillustrated,

since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departurefrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In the herein-described structure for use as a shipping unit andother purposes, the combination of a body adapted to constitute acontainer, door sections hinged at their lower ends to the body, toswing to a vertical position to constitute a closure of the body, and toa lowered position to constitute a platform, the upper ends of the doorsections being hinged to assume a position at an angle to the body ofthe door when lowered, a removable fastener bar extending continuouslyfrom the top to the bottom of the structure overlying the adjacent edgesof the doors and extending across the hinged joints of the uppersections thereof, vertical cleats hinged to the body, near the ends, toswing against the adjacent portions of the doors, the cleats extendingcontinuously over the hinge joints of the hinged sections of the doors,means carried by the cleats to fasten the door bodies in the closedposition and engage the removable fastener bar, and additional fasteningmeans carried by the cleats to engage the hinged sections of the doors.

Q. In the herein-described structure for use as a shipping unit andother purposes, the combination 'of a body adapted to constitute acontainer, door sections hinged at their lower lends to the body, toswing to a vertical position to constitute a closure of the body, and toa lowered position to constitute a platform, the upper ends of the doorsections being hinged to assume a position at an angle to the body ofthe door when lowered, vertical'cleats hinged to the body at the door oening to fold over the adjacent portions o `the door sections and toextend continuously over the hinge joints of the door sections, saidcleats being formed wlth right angular bends adjacent to the hinges toswing within the plane of the front of the body, fastening means carriedby the cleats for fastening the body of each door section, andadditional means carried by the cleats to engage the hinged portions ofthe door sections.

3. In the herein-described structure for use as a shipping unit andother purposes, the combination of a body adapted to constitute acontainer, doors hinged at their lower ends to swing to a verticalposition to constitute a closure of the body, or to a lowered positionto constitute a platform, a removable fastener bar having engagement atits upper and lower ends with the body and adapted to overlie theadjacent edges of the doors when in the closed position, the saidremovable fastener bar having shoulders thereon, hinged cleats on thebody adjacentto the opposite edges of the doors and adapted to swingover the latter, and fastener straps pivoted to each hinged cleat toswing in a vertical plane, one of said straps having a hinged outer endcarrying a staple, l

and the other strap having a hinged outer end in the form of a haspoffset to embrace the removable fastener bar between the shouldersthereof, the said body adjacent to the cleats having recesses and thefastener straps having ends projecting beyond the pivots and adapted toenter said recesses.

4. The herein-described structure for use as a shipping unit and otherpurposes, comprising a body adapted to constitutev a container, a shelfwithin the container and hinged at one end to fold vertically, saidshelf having its outer end hinged to fold relatively to the body of theshelf and assume an angle to the latter when the shelf is foldedupwardly, and fastening means at the top of the body to retain thehinged end of the shelf when in the folded position.

The herein-described structure for use as a shipping unit and otherpurposes, comprising a body adapted to constitute a container, a shelfhingedly supported at one end within the body, a supporting bar for theIll@ shelf, means for detachably -engaging one end of said bar, and ahanger mounted at its uppeil end for swinging movement to a positionbeneath the top of the body and connected with the opposite end of saidsupporting bar, to fold rela-tively to said bar, the said bar and hangerbeing adapted to fold together, and means for supporting the hanger andthe said supporting bar in the raised position.

6. The herein-described structure for use as av shipping unit and otherpurposes, comprising a body adapted to constitute a container, shelveshingedly supported Within JAMES WILLIAM TERRY.

IVitnesses:

ARTHUR RoDGERs IVooD, CHARLES JoHNsToNE THOMSON.

